Frank Girardot: We’re not dead yet.

I guess there’s good reason for it. They are thinner, more expensive and printed in an age when news delivery is largely digital. But that’s not the whole story. Because the fact of the matter is this: newspaper-style journalism remains strong and relevant, no matter how it’s delivered.

Maybe I should have capitalized “Journalism” to make my point.

Anyway, there’s usually some paid government hack that would have you believe otherwise. And it’s usually the same paid government hack that’s pretending to favor transparency, openness, trust and accountability.

You’ll usually find that guy anywhere there’s a free lunch, a breakfast buffet that purports to be about prayer or anywhere else rubber chicken is doled out at round tables festooned with linen, silver, fine china and name cards.

It’s the hack who sends out a press release telling you there’s a contest to rename a municipal bus line, then tries to convince you that the city’s Free Area Rapid Transit system doesn’t smell.

But the hack’s real motive is to avoid getting caught up in a scandal that’s making the front page; it’s much easier to divert attention from your problem if you tell your buddies the newspaper is dying and just looking to take a few good men and women with it.

More than one local hack has used that old saw as a way to explain their shortcomings on the job.

Recently, in reviewing a spate of city council email records, obtained on a public records act request, this tactic was on full display.

In one set of emails, a city hack expressed some joy at what was perceived to be the demise of local newspapers. In the course of the screed, a bunch of numbers were tossed around that were completely fabricated. After getting over my initial anger, I realized it was probably the hack’s way of explaining why reporters don’t paste cut and press releases and then try to pass them off as “news.”

What the hack couldn’t tell anyone was that the news releases — written in the confines of city hall — were all drivel, and therefore not fit to print.

And, guess what Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer? Hacks everywhere are collecting a paycheck on your dime, doing nothing but counting the days ‘til retirement. And, the number of stories they’ve attempted to kill.

But I’m here to tell you, newspaper journalism isn’t as dead as that aimless and well-fed soul would want the people who sign government paychecks to believe.

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Proof? Here you go:

Bell corruption scandal? Uncovered by a newspaper.

County assessor scandal? Uncovered by a newspaper.

Sheriff’s jailhouse scandal? Uncovered by a newspaper.

Irwindale corruption case? Uncovered by a newspaper.

Pasadena police misconduct? Uncovered by a newspaper.

Central Basin Water District $2.75 million slush-fund?

You get the point.

We’re not dead yet.

Frank C. Girardot is the editor of the Pasadena Star-News, senior editor for the San Gabriel Valley News Group and author of “Name Dropper: Investigating the Clark Rockefeller Mystery” and “Manling Williams’ Deadly Sins.” Both are available at Amazon.com